Our Say: Thanks above all to those who saved us

What more can you say about the police officers who arrived at our Annapolis offices Thursday afternoon knowing there was a gunman waiting for them inside ready to kill again?

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What more can you say about Anne Arundel County Deputy Chief Bill Krampf, who coordinated the massive response to Bestgate Road by multiple police agencies?

What can you say about the officer who carried one of our reporters across the broken glass of our front door, shattered with a shotgun blast by a man determined to kill us? Or the ones who captured that evil man as he was trying to hide after the gunfire ended?

We question police and fire department decisions all the time, it’s part of our job. We’ve written stories that haven’t gone down well with police leadership or the rank and file. We certainly know the Anne Arundel prosecutor’s office finds fault with us some days. Some readers may assume we don’t admire and respect police officers and firefighters because we don’t take what they say on blind faith.

We don’t look for stories to embarrass anyone, but we won’t shy away from reporting the news that puts someone in a negative light.

We’ll do it again; you can count on it.

But not today.

On Sunday, we offered our thanks to the entire community for rallying around us. Today, we offer something more profound: Thanks to the people whose bravery, professionalism and preparation saved our lives.

Thank you to the men and women of Anne Arundel County Police and Fire Departments, the Annapolis Police Department and all the other law enforcement agencies who saved the survivors of the murderous rampage in our newsroom. Thank you for taking care of our five friends who did make it home that day. Thank you to the prosecutors who went into the office to start their work.

Thank you.

We understand how difficult your job is. We understand that some days we make your job more difficult.

Thank you for saying that this was different because you know us. You knew them.

We’re still struggling to move forward. Conversation helps, but it would be a lie to say we won’t be changed by all of this.